Otso's 3rd Month

Summary
We are seeing more of Otso's personality this month, and so far he is cheerful and easygoing.

Events
22.12 open Christmas gifts at home
23.12-6.1 trip to Finland
23.12 flights to Finland. Otso was calm and quiet. He had a couple screaming fits in the car on the drive to Nakkila. He met his Lankinen cousins for the first time.
24.12 Finnish Christmas, visit from Joulupukki
25.12 American Christmas
26.12 happily out and about in the carrier
28.12 visit to Kari house
29.12 travel to mökki
2.1 drive back to Helsinki, visit with Sami and Ilona
5.1 US playgroup, visit at the Setala house
6.1 flight back to Stavanger, Otso was barely noticed because he was so quiet


Eating
He has an annoying habit of latching on the breast and then jerking his head back and off. It hurts a little, but also sprays milk everywhere. He seems to do this when he isn't really hungry, just has some belly pain like needing to poo or having gas. When he is hungry he eats efficiently and well.
I have started to introduce more dairy into my diet, and he isn't spitting up as much as before. I tried adding some legumes (a lentil soup) and it was disastrous. Both mother and baby were very gassy and uncomfortable.

Sleeping
He naps well most of the time, with about 1.5 hours awake in between. He sleeps next to äiti at night, and does "dream feeds" but usually doesn't fully wake up until morning.
When he gets overtired, he has trouble going to bed at night, and those are the worst screaming fits we have had. This has happened about 3 times this month. We tried to fend it off by doing what it takes to make sure he gets a nap in the evening. Sometimes this means that äiti has to put him in the carrier and walk him around outside.

Health
In Finland he seems to be getting a stuffy nose. He slept really well in Nakkila but got gradually more fussy toward the end of the trip.
Diapering is still okay, though we are still using disposables at night. We are experimenting with different covers. At this point, the Fuzzibunz seem to leak almost every time. We think (read: hope) this is due to his size and that this will stop soon.

Likes/Dislikes
Likes: milk, cuddles, rattles, watching, sleeping in the carrier if we are walking at a steady pace
Dislikes: pacifier, when äiti goes out of his line of sight


Playing
He is starting to smile at everyone. He likes to look at some toys, especially when we shake a rattle in his face.
On 11.1, he grabbed a rattle for the first time.
On 14.1, I noticed he has started looking at his hands.
On 17.1, he held a toy and brought it to his mouth, and he held a rattle and shook it.

Development
His hands have opened and he waves his arms enthusiastically when he is excited. Around Christmas, his legs straightened out, so he suddenly seems to have outgrown a bunch of clothes.
He is quite alert and loves to look at rattles. He is starting to be able to hit a rattle with a hand.

Stats
size: 68 or 74 at end of month (6-9 months), or 62 in pants. We are using an extender with the size 68 onesies with a cloth diaper, but the 74 size fits fine in a variety of brands.